I live in Wales and was expecting a government letter for shielding. Based on my medication and excabations I knew this anyway however I made sure to check with my hospital respiratory team (TWICE) yes, she confirmed I would receive one. Phew - because I have now taken 12 weeks off world to 'shield' (I'm an NHS worker)
Anyway, 2 weeks off now and I still haven't heard anything, I've called my GP surgery twice this week and (they don't even ask who I am to check) they just keep saying, it isn't us who send them and all vulnerable people WILL get them by the end of the week.. it is now Thursday and I don't know what to do if I don't receive one by tomorrow?
I'm really worried that I won't get paid without this letter as to me it's my 'proof'..
given how (very) unstable my asthma has been over the last few years I also don't want to go into work (at a hospital with positive patients/maybe colleagues) if I shouldn't be, I just feel like il have to if I don't get mine. And who do I even contact? My GP surgery have been less than helpful and resp team said to contact those if not, I'd rather not have to keep ringing them at the moment knowing how busy they are, but I might have to
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Amy2091
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Just an edit - no idea if it's helpful. I had a separate call from GP this week saying they have received a letter for me to get a vaccine done (I was expecting that) however when I said I'm currently in shielding, they said 'oh sorry, we had no idea about that..) but then just said get in touch when I'm ready
I just received one from my hospital consultant (in Wales also), so it may be that it will come directly from your hospital respiratory clinic. It sounds like your hospital respiratory team are on top of it, perhaps just check with them that it is indeed coming from them. My letter said that they were rather busy as I could imagine hence delay... so I would wait until tomorrow/ end of week as they said...
We haven't had any post for a few days here but we did see the postman so I was disappointed to find nothing lol
Think il ring the team tomorrow jsut to find out what to do and how long to wait because I'm so worried about either not getting paid or having to go back to work when my husband is now also finally isolating with us at last too
yes, today, but they did stress they were incredibly busy. Maybe your surname is in latter part of the alphabet (I'm at the beginning of the alphabet)? Likely it will come tomorrow or Saturday ...perhaps leave off phoning til Monday?
Happy sheltering in place to you too. Maybe use some of the wonderful online resources, concerts, yoga, whatever, to distract you from worry and promote good immune-friendly neurochemicals rather than the damaging ones of stress, we need to gather all our resources to keep physically and emotionally healthy at the moment
Thanks! Ye, il sure be more comfortable when I receive my letter but otherwise I'm sure we can keep busy, we decorated yesterday and that made the day fly by so maybe another room lol.
Hi Amy, I'm in England but just saw on a FB asthma group I'm in that someone in Wales received their letter today, and was explaining that Wales is about a week behind England in sending them out. I don't know if this is official but thought it might help to share - may mean that yours is about to arrive? Crossing fingers you get it soon!
Good morning, there obviously is some confusion about who should get letter, I have not received one and I’m asthma on high medication , Bronchiectasis, had lung collapse, and two heart attaches., but hey I’m retired and know I am to self isolate, I feel for you guys who are at work and the stress of not knowing whether a letter for work is on its way.
To clarify Asthma UK guidance from the government. There are 3 criteria (not just inhalers/meds).
My GP clarified Wednesday morning
I did not and will not get a letter because I am not on regular steroid tablets ie pred and I have not had hospital admissions.
However, GP said based on my medications I am at a higher risk and therefore she said I should be shielding.
You only need a letter for an employer. If you don't get an official NHS letter and your GP confirms you need to shield they will provide a letter for the employer.
I know the anxiety in my case I needed clarity one way or other as I am an informal carer and needed to know.
Hi, I was unsure if I fell into this category at first also but I spoke to 2 different people in my respiratory team who confirmed that I would receive one. (I also checked the asthma website and come under the 3 things listed this week - that changes every few days too!)
My GP don't know who I am when I ring and offer no advice, it's almost automated..
My employer is expecting me back in work next week (nhs worker and our department is struggling) but I don't know what to do.. how can I refuse without proof?
Go to your surgery's website. There is a big blue block from eConsult
I sent my message 6pm Monday night and reply by 10am Wednesday Morning.
Please be patient with surgeries. If you can contact by this method it can be helpful to your surgery.
Contact your doctors online
Fill out a simple online form to get advice and treatment by the end of the next working day
Ask about common problems like coughs, back pain or mental health
Ask about general symptoms like dizziness, tiredness or pain
Request sick notes and GP letters, or ask about recent tests
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View common problems you can ask about:
Click on one of these - I clicked on Request sick notes and GP Letters.
Fill in the form I clicked other requests for documents and paperwork and then typed in:
Guidance on whether or not I should be shielding for 12 weeks. I have asthma and have read on Asthma Uk that I may be one of those getting the Shielding letter but have not received any guidance. I am on Duoresp Spiramax 160/4.5 2 puffs twice a day and up to 8 extra puffs a day (12 in total), I am on Monteleukast and Ventolin. In addition I nightly have to use a CPAP machine. Need clarity at present Shop, Home and to person I am informal carer for to do medication and deliver shopping
Then you get an Email stating that this has been sent to surgery and you will hear by 6.30pm the next day. You will also get a copy of your consultation document attached to the email it gives a reference number and also says if not heard by time stated to click the link below to let your surgery know.
The next day I received an email stating message from surgery
Dear Lynne,
Wideopen Medical Centre has a message for you about your recent online consultation.
The message is:
"Thank you for your eConsult. We will contact you in due course."
Let the practice know you've received this message.
You click on the link that is "let the practice know you've received this message.
I did not get a reply before the 6.30pm so clicked on original email where it said
But if they're unable to reach you by then, please contact the practice using this secure form. (the link is the last bit of that sentence)
About 10am next day I got a phone call from Dr and she told me to Shield. I don't need a letter as Freelance but if you talking to GP and they tell you to and you are an employee ask for a LETTER /Note from GP for your employer.
From what I can gather, there are four stages, or sweeps, to ensure that all patients are identified for shielding. The digital sweep (group 1) has just finished, with letters received this week in England. If you are in Group 2 (identied by hospital respiratory teams) then letters will go out next.
I wouldn't worry as you've been told by the respiratory team you will get the letter. There are 1.5 million to issue, which is a mammoth task, especially if the usual hospital systems are used for group 2.
I live in Glasgow and I'm still waiting for my letter & getting grief from my employer to get a self isolation note. They just can't grasp that the self isolation note is for people who have had or are living with someone who has the virus, not for the people shielding. Elsewhere, my Mum (87, leukaemia since 1999, a stroke about 7 years ago) hasn't received a letter either. I'm guessing they're just taking their time to reach everyone.
The list of those receiving one is becoming less and less, I was following the asthma website which keeps changing regular. A lot of people I expected to get one now probably won't. I still should (according to that) but I just need something ...
I'm happy to go back to work next week if not however the virus just seems inevitable to a lot of us with severe asthma and it's scary
My GP said I should receive a letter, I haven’t but needed proof for work so instead she gave me a sick note for 12 weeks stating I needed to shield due to asthma. Could you do this instead?
My GP aren't the best, the last time I spoke to them via phone consultation they refused to change my prescription due to high does (despite my hospital constant insisting on it - ugh, sorted eventually though..) I will ring Monday afternoon if I've not had one by then and hope they can help, or maybe the resp team if not as they're more helpful it seems but also likely inundated
I sent an email to employer yesterday stating why I'm shielding and included all my meds also for her to check, she seems to accept that atm, I've also put my name forward for the antibody test
Hi, I finally got a reply from the asthma clinic. It seems that unless you are given an injection every 2 weeks, they don't consider you severe. I've now been told to contact the asthma nurse in my GP's surgery and ask her to put me on the list. I phoned the GP with trepidation and spoke to a different receptionist who has now set up a GP's phone consultation for next Tuesday to hopefully sort things out. This whole debacle has shown that the NHS was, as insisted on by nurses & doctors etc, hanging together by a thread. All the years of underfunding by successive governments of all colours has come home to roost. I sincerely hope that governments from now on, will take the health of the populace seriously and stop using the NHS as a political football.
Good luck Amy! I, myself, plan to go down the 12 week doctors line route if my HR department don't stop reading from a script... what are the chances?
Yes my respiratory nurse said they were initially only referring to patients on biologics (I was due to start these in April - probably not now lol!) but that it is now rolled out to others.
I too will be off upto 12 weeks but I'm having the antibody test, so if ive had it then il be returning sooner anyway
Hi all, the letter arrived on the weekend (we are only receiving post two days a week currently) it is a relief to have for work, but was still hoping to carry out antibody test when made available - anyone know if there's a risk to getting this done?
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Prednisolone questions 
Help hypoxia asthma? 
New to biologics - don't feel particularly well.
